GANGRENE Gangrene is a serious condition that occurs when a lack of blood flow or a serious bacterial infection causes the death of body tissue. Gangrene can affect any part of the body including the muscles and internal organs but it typically starts in the extremities, including the toes, fingers, and limbs. Gangrene is a …
FOOD ALLERGY Food allergy is an abnormal immune system reaction to food. Even exposure to very small amounts of allergy-causing food can trigger signs and symptoms associated with the condition. Food that causes allergic reactions are called allergens Sometimes allergy symptoms are mild. Other times they are severe. All allergic symptoms should be taken seriously. …
ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION Erectile dysfunction is a type of sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough to have sexual intercourse. Having an erection problem from time to time is not uncommon. Many men experience it during times of stress. Erectile dysfunction is only considered a concern if the inability …
WHAT IS LAPAROSCOPY Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure commonly used to visualize and examine the organs inside the abdomen, diagnose and treat a number of medical conditions. Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure with fewer side effects, low risks and shorter recovery time. In laparoscopy, an instrument called laparoscope is used to look at the …
TONSILITIS Tonsillitis is the inflammation of the tonsils caused by viral, and sometimes bacterial infection. The tonsils are the two oval-shaped pads of tissues located at the back of the throat.] They are composed of tissues similar to the lymph nodes and are part of the immune system. They act as a defense mechanism, trapping …
SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME (SIDS) Sudden infant death syndrome is defined as the unexplained death of an infant less than one year of age. SIDS is suspected when a seemingly healthy infant is found dead following a period of sleep without any sign of distress or serious illness prior to the incident. SIDS may occur …
PERNICIOUS ANAEMIA Overview Pernicious anaemia is a condition in which the body can’t make enough healthy red blood cells because it doesn’t have enough vitamin B12 (a nutrient found in certain foods). People who have pernicious anaemia can’t absorb enough vitamin B12 due to a lack of intrinsic factor (a protein made in the stomach). …
PERITONITIS Peritonitis is the inflammation of the peritoneum, the tissue that lines the inner abdominal wall and covers and supports the organs within the abdomen. The peritoneum is a membrane made up of 2 layers. One layer lines the cavity and the other layer lines the organ. The peritoneum helps support organs in the abdominal …
OSTEOMYELITIS Osteomyelitis is an infection and inflammation of the bone. Bones can become infected in a number of ways: infections can reach a bone by traveling through the bloodstream or spreading from nearby tissues, or infections can begin in the bone itself when an open fracture or surgery exposes it to germs. The condition affects …
OPTIC NEURITIS What is optic neuritis? As the name suggests, “optic” stands for eye and “neur-itis” means inflammation or swelling of nerve. What is optic nerve? Optic nerve is the nerve that carries signals that your eye receives from the light passing through it; to the brain, where it processes those signals and you are …
